The American Lung Association released a major report on tobacco control on Wednesday.
The Lung Association noted that in order to reduce the negative health impact of tobacco use, Texas policymakers need to increase funding for tobacco prevention and"Quit Smoking" programs, eliminate the e-cigarette tax loophole by taxing them like other tobacco products and increase the cigarette tax by $1.00 per pack or more.“Despite receiving $1.87 billion from tobacco settlement payments and tobacco taxes, Texas only funds tobacco control efforts at 2.
Experts like Dr. Devika Rao, Pediatric Pulmonologist at Children's Health and Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern, said that rate is way too high.Dr. Rao has conducted extensive research on e-cigarettes and the effect on youth. She said the number of teens using e-cigarettes has exploded in the last 10 years.
She said marketing through the internet and social media over the years has contributed to the rise of e-cigarettes. Data is even showing that vaping is leading teens into smoking actual cigarettes. Even though it's illegal for teens to buy tobacco products, Dr. Rao says they're finding a way to get it.